Songs for a New World

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "Songs for a New World" by Jason Robert Brown

Date: Thurs, June 8,

Quicktake on SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

     The Metro Stage Company's revival of Jason Robert Brown's 1995 revue, "Songs for a New World" shows the continued development of this company. At least on par with their successful "Assassins" a little over a year ago, this current effort, again directed by Janet Neely, achieves much of the potential in this collection of songs which vary from the universal to the personal. Originally staged with only four singers, Metro is using eight, which adds variety and offers more vocal color in the group numbers, which are not the show's strongest material.

     The first real show stopper is the third, "Just One Step" Tracy Nygard's comic suicide attempt. Her last musical was "The Full Monty" at Turtle Lane. Kristin Huberdeau, whose various credits include NSMT, soon gets into "Stars and the Moon," a song which has moved into the repertoire of some well-known singers. She's also affecting in the "Christmas Lullaby." The second part starts with Grace Summer, who just played Helena in "Midsummer..." for Hovey, doing a Kurt Weill parody. "Surabaya-Santa". Mary 'ODonnell, the most experienced cast member, repeats the "New World" theme several times starting with the opening, but is most impressive doing "The Flagmaker 1775," one of the show's two historical numbers, an anti-war piece.

     James Tallach, a Turle Lane stalwart who was seen in Metro's "Assassins," has a strong romantic duet with Nygard, "I'd Give It All for You," one of several numbers foreshadowing Brown's better known show, "The Last Five Years." Aaron Velthouse, most recently Sky Masterson at Turtle Lane, is most impressive doing "KIng of the World," about a jailed dictator. Joshua Heggie, seen last winter at Turtle Lane as Jim in "Big River" joins Chas Kircher in "The River Don't Flow," followed soon after by "She Cries". Kircher closes the first act as the lead singer in "The World Was Dancing," a bittersweet romance with Huberdeau. Velthouse leads the penultimate number, "Flying Home."

    The distinctive voices of this ensemble are backed up by music director Karen Gahagan at the keyboard, with Michael Joseph on a second. Kimmerie Jones provided the cast with simple black costumes suited to their personae; Andrew Haserlat created an effective unit set, and John MacKenzie gets effective lighting out of the limited positions available. Choreography, necessarily brief, is by Donald Ray Gregorio, another Turtle Lane hand. Anyone interested in the continuing development of the American Musical Theatre who hasn't heard this collection of smart songs should take in this production. Incidentally, all the lyrics are available of the author's website.

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"Songs for a New World" by Jason Robert Brown, June 10-17

Metro Stage Company at Durrell Hall, Camb. YMCA

850 Mass. Ave. Camb, (617) 524 - 5013
Metro Stage Co.